The biggest source of energy in the solar system is the sun.  It provided light for our entire world, before Thomas Edison discovered electricity and the light bulb.  Why can’t we store that energy, and use it for our good?  We can!  Think of it like a glow in the dark star, on the ceiling of your room when you were a kid.  When your light was on, the star was saving the light, so that when you turned the light off, the star still glowed.  Well, same idea here, sort of:

*The sun’s rays are made up of photons. . .

*When the photons hit the solar panel, it moves the electrons in the silicon atom. . .

*The electrons (which make electricity) are gathered up into usable amounts of energy. . .

*The energy is used, stored in batteries (like when you charge your cell phone battery except on a larger scale), or sent back to the electrical grid (the electric company pays you!). . .

*When you’re ready to use the energy for light bulbs, A/C units, etc., it’s there waiting!

*When things that use energy draw the power, the batteries send it to an inverter. . .

*The inverter changes the electricity into standard wall voltage (like your house)!